When Evgeny Korolev came on tour in 2005, his primary claim to fame was being Anna Kournikova’s cousin. But the Moscow-born, now Kazakhstan native could also blister heavy ground strokes. By the time he was 22, Korolev found himself inside the Top 50 after reaching the third round of the 2010 Australian Open. Unfortunately, that same year he suffered an elbow injury that has been plaguing him ever since.

After his most recent surgery, Korolev wanted to find a string that was durable, control-oriented, and spin-friendly, but wouldn’t aggravate his arm like typical stiff polyesters. He switched to Solinco’s Outlast, and it seems to be agreeing with him: Korolev’s ranking has moved from No. 520 last June to a current spot of No. 178.

Solinco has gained traction in the string market thanks to the popularity of its Tour Bite. That string’s success has probably overshadowed the Outlast in Solinco’s lineup, but the red polyester is a worthy string in its own right. I’ve played with both, and while Tour Bite probably grips the ball a bit better, providing more spin, Outlast has a softer response. The 17 gauge is practically springy.

The string has an all-court playability not seen in many polys. Yet all that forgiveness does little to compromise its durability. It makes Outlast a smart transition string for multifilament users who want to dip their toe in the polyester world. At a favorable price point ($8 set, $109 reel), it’s certainly worth a try.